The Know-It-All's Guide to Life: How to Climb Mount Everest, Cure Hiccups, Live to 100, and Dozens of Other Practical, Unusual, or Just Plain Fantasti [Paperback]

John T. Walbaum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2003

With wit and brevity this book contains useful advice on personal finance, health, sports, travel, automobiles, careers, and food. For example, in just six pages you will learn how to negotiate with a contractor. Consider some of the other facts brought to light in The Know-it-all's Guide to Life: o Eating chocolate before bedtime can disrupt your sleep. o 40 percent of totaled cars are fixed up and resold to unsuspecting buyers. o You can acquire a genuine British title of nobility for as little as $5,000. o By writing just one letter, you can eliminate most of the junk mail you receive. o You can lose weight by chewing sugarless gum. o You need to own at least 20 different stocks to have a well-diversified portfolio. o You will improve your recall if you skim written material first, then read it through completely. o Mashed potatoes and gravy are a healthier fast food choice than french fries. Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or just intellectually curious, this book is the ultimate guide to modern life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: Career Press (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564146731
• ISBN-13: 978-1564146731
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,896,957 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some interesting bits, . . . but not enough of them, July 26, 2003

By 

Michael K. Smith (South Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Know-It-All's Guide to Life: How to Climb Mount Everest, Cure Hiccups, Live to 100, and Dozens of Other Practical, Unusual, or Just Plain Fantasti (Paperback)

There seem to be a lot of these semi-bizarre "how-to" books being published these days. Maybe they're a spinoff of reality TV. Like most, this one is a mix of genuinely interesting information ("How to hire a contractor" is good, as is "How to conduct like Toscanini"), misguided or inadequately informed recommendations ("How to make great grilled chicken" is simply a recipe for beer can chicken, which isn't at all the same thing), and tongue-in-cheek throwaways. (Under "How to become a billionaire," you find J. Paul Getty's line: "Rise early. Work late. Strike oil." Droll, but not useful.) Some sections are much longer than others, and some rate a "DUH" -- the paragraph on "How to improve your public speaking," for instance, is simply a recommendation for Toastmasters International. And "How to ace an interview" assumes you're an executive (or new B-school grad) trying out for a standardized corporate position, with very little relevancy for those of us in civil service or academia, to say nothing of applicants at Microsoft. "How to train a basset hound" is obviously a humorous paean to the author's pet, drawings of whose mug are scattered throughout the book. But the essay I personally found most informative? "How to select a single malt scotch."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Know It All's Guide to Life by Walbaum, July 30, 2004

By 

Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA,... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Know-It-All's Guide to Life: How to Climb Mount Everest, Cure Hiccups, Live to 100, and Dozens of Other Practical, Unusual, or Just Plain Fantasti (Paperback)

This is an excellent purchase if you are interested in social
details; such as, formal titles, losing weight and notable
public events. Would like to purchase an English title? Details
are described in the section on Burke's Title & Manorial Auctions.

A section describes how to measure your body masse with the BMI
factor (body mass index). The author describes how to lose weight by chewing more gum. There is a NASA site entitled
888-85 SPACE for viewing important launches and space events.
The book is perfect for a student project.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful and Compelling Read, March 4, 2003

By 

cpvjr (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Know-It-All's Guide to Life: How to Climb Mount Everest, Cure Hiccups, Live to 100, and Dozens of Other Practical, Unusual, or Just Plain Fantasti (Paperback)

The author clearly did a great deal of research on a broad array of interesting topics. The trenchant and witty manner in which the book is written makes for a decidedly compelling read.

In addition to the standard reference sources, the author also includes many websites for those who wish to obtain additional information on the topics covered.

In sum, I recommend highly this book and hope that the author writes another of this genre. Bravo!